Nobody's Perfect!

"Stop, stop! Ok lets go from the top. AGAIN. Whoever is singing do-re-so, it's do-re-me. Get it right!" Whoops, my bad :S

"Ok everyone, here are your tests back. Now i have to admit this is the easiest test i've given since....well....ever. And you all did exceptional.....well most of you." (did he just just glance at me?)

"Miss Thompson, can you please tell me when the first steam engine was used?" "Um, gee, well....{flipping frantically through notes} 1920?"

Ok, so none of these things have actually happened to me (thank goodness!). But I do mess up more than I accomplish. Ha just ask my friends.

But I like to think of my imperfections as part of my personality! I mean, come on, who else would manage to ask the Subway lady for pork after she just asked for a chicken melt?? Think of how boring the world would be if no one ever messed up. AFV would go out of business, for sure. And for all you blackmailers, sorry to say you'd be outta the job. I'm also pretty positive that the whole gossip/media thing we got going on would disappear like my brother when my mom asks him to do the dishes. So laugh off your embarrassing moments. Everyone else is!

"Nobody's perfect! I gotta work it! Again and again, til I get it right. Nobody's perfect! You live and you love it!" -Hannah Montana

Life is Good. Really.

Life is good. I don't care what people say. I can't say it any other way.

Life isn't always fair. It isn't always a walk in the park. You can't go through life saying, "I want this, I want that," and except to receive it. But it IS the only life you will ever get on this earth. And you could always, ALWAYS be worse off than you are.

Let's say you've been stuck after hockey practice waiting for your mom to come get you but can't call her because your phone died and can't borrow someone else's because you are the last human left in the arena (even the little dust clumps have disappeared). You glance at the clock. You've been waiting for 1 hour 43 minutes. You want to scream! "UGH! Why is my life so horrible??" But imagine that you're a 10-year old girl, waiting for her mom to pick her up from school. She waits and waits and waits. Her mom never shows up. She's been killed in a car accident.

There are pains in this world that you can't even imagine. And we complain over the littlest, most insignificant things. "Oh man, I can not believe I'm paired with Agatha for that history project. Does she own anything besides that yellow t-shirt? And I'm pretty sure her last shower was when Bush was President...." While an African boy is starving and hasn't eaten in 6 days.

We have SOOOO much. But do we ever take time to stop, and say a grateful prayer.? Not nearly enough. If you've got food on your plate, a snack in the cupboard, a warm bed, a toilet, and some spare $ to spend at the movies, consider yourself lucky. You are fortunate to have what some people can't even imagine.

Why do we always focus on the negative? We put down ourselves, and bash others to build ourselves back up. Consciously or not, we all do it. Think of all the ways you limit yourself if you don't have confidence in YOU!

This world will never satisfy us, God is the only and will always be the only thing that can give us true joy. So take time to thank God for your blessings. Tell him you're grateful for the freedoms and priveleges that we don't deserve to have. Seriously.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Sure, everyone's heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words" and most of us would agree. Ok, whoop de doo...what about it?

Think about it. Your friend tells you she has a soccer game Thursday night. She's really pumped up for it, it's against a tough team but she thinks they'll pull off a win. You put on a big smile and wish her the best of luck. "Knock 'em dead, girl!" But think of how much better your bud would feel if YOU showed up at that game and cheered her on from the stands.

Picture this. A girl on your debate team is looking a little down one day. You go up to her and ask her what's wrong. "Oh, well, my grandpa just passed away and we were really close...." she sniffles. You either: A. pat her on the back and say, "Oh man, I'm really sorry. That must be so tough." or B. Give her a big hug and offer to be there to talk if she wants to. And maybe even make her a sympathy card. Which option do you think would make her feel better?

Sometimes you have to slow down and take a breath. Consider what's more important, that new episode of Lost or helping Grandma with her groceries. You can say the sweetest words on earth, but that's all they'll ever be--words. It may be harder taking that extra step, but it's a step....not a mile.

Teen Forever

Taxes
+
Work 40 hours/week
+
Laundry
+
Mow the lawn
+
Make supper
+
Haul kids every which way
+
7 hours of sleep
+
Insurance or no insurance??
=
the life of an adult.

It seems like just yesterday I was playing with Barbies & hide-n-go seek with the neighbor kids. Not too long ago, I was the little girl riding the pink bicycle with little fringies coming out of the handlebars. (Oh and don't forget the little bike horn, which was probably just as loud-and annoying-as a car horn.) Not a care in the world. No stress, just fun & games. Or how about more up-to-date: track meets, tennis matches, basketball games, youth group, summer camp, sleepovers, driving permit (hopeful license in 1 month 5 days--not that I'm counting or anything), iPods, Facebook, & texting. It's the good life! Sure, I've had plenty of rain on my parade. Or storms, in the case of homework :P And of course, there's always the talk about your future. What classes to take to make sure you're all set. "Wat r u gonna majer in when u gro up?" "Most likely spelling and grammar."

But what I if don't want to grow up?

What if I still can't get enough of Pocahontas and The Lion King? What if I can't give up those high school football games (where everyone is completely intent on watching the game and only the game)? What if I enjoy being immature & boiling up miscellaneous items from the church fridge just to see if they'll explode?

I mean, come on. Me?? College?! You've gotta be kidding. Makes me think of Mom and Dad Mouse saying to little Gus, "Oh honey, we know you're nervous for your first day. Just don't pay any attention to the fact that most of the other students are cats."

Man, I wish I could just fly off with Peter Pan to Neverland. No worries, and just be a teen forever.

Endings and Beginnings

Why did it have to end like this?? Was this anyway for a person to go? I knew what laid out before me, and the last thing I wanted to do was face it. I wasn't ready to let the good times go, not this early. Looking around me, I know my feelings were mutual. The look of despair was evident in every face I passed. At least I wouldn't take this fate alone. Time was running out, how could this have come so fast?! I glanced up and knew I had only moments left. The painful journey stretched out before me and I wasn't prepared. Change was inevitable, and I've always been resistant to change. Today was no different. Then suddenly, it happened. The ringing sounded in my ears. School had begun.